Gutter protectors can do a very good job of keeping the gutters flowing freely. If you have large trees in your yard, gutter guards will really save you time and unpleasant work by helping to prevent gutters from clogging. Gutter protectors or other names, gutter screens, helmets or covers supposedly prevent debris from entering rain gutters. In turn, the protectors will reduce the amount of gutter cleaning and save you money in the long run.
Or so the sellers of gutter protectors claim. After reviewing long-term costs, it's safe to say that sewer protectors aren't worth it and are a waste of money. Gutter Guards do a relatively good job of keeping debris out of gutters, saving you the chore of cleaning gutters. However, gutters still need routine cleaning and maintenance, defeating the purpose of investing in gutter guards.
Mold and mildew are not good for your home. Nor are they good for your health. That's one of the reasons why installing gutter guards can be a real benefit for everyone. To break it down, the most common materials for clogging gutters are leaves, dirt and other types of natural waste.
These materials can also harbor mold spores, which can bloom inside clogged gutters. Years ago, I did a thorough test of almost every Gutter Guard design. I found out that almost all of them fail. Reverse curve designs allow small pieces of debris to be transported to the gutter, where it is impossible to clean up rotting dirt.
Small debris of all kinds obstructs holes, crevices and dies in the other designs. Most gutter guards fail miserably in the spring when small debris falls from trees like snow in a snowstorm. Some designs work better than others, but heavy rain often overwhelms the protection of the gutter, causing stormwater to overflow, especially on a roof with a large surface or a steep roof. When you calculate the amount of time, effort and money it takes to install and care for gutter guards, you'll find that it doesn't offer any cost savings and isn't worth the expense.
Gutter guards will eliminate the risk of falling while cleaning gutters or reduce the cost of cleaning gutters. By creating a barrier between rodents, birds and even snakes and the spacious gutter below, gutter guards are a vital first line of defense against a larger pest problem. By installing a gutter guard, screen, or helmet, you add extra weight to your gutter that your fascia can't handle. One of the main pitfalls of having mosquito nets or gutter protectors installed is that they often give you a false sense of security.
Not only will gutter cleaning be more expensive when installing gutter guards, but so will gutter repairs. In addition to preventing gutters from clogging, gutter guards also help deter or block pests from installing their homes in your gutter system. Unfortunately, this is not an ideal world, and no matter what claims to the contrary, gutter protectors (screens, helmets, covers) are not worth the investment. A gutter that is constantly overflowing can cause water damage to the roof, foundation, and walls of your home.
If you are considering a gutter protection system, consider the trees in your house and the annual rainfall you expect from the roof to ensure that the system works according to your expectations. So once again, gutter screens prove that not only are they ineffective, they can end up costing you a lot of money on repair work. Australian Standard AS3959 building regulations now require that all homes built in that area have ember protection installed. Many people wonder if gutter covers are a solution to the problem, since these types of products claim to be able to slow down or even prevent debris from entering the gutters.
Gutter Guard may be worthwhile if you find yourself climbing stairs regularly to clean gutters, or if you find that birds and vermin use their gutters as a nesting place. In places like the Pacific Northwest, it is especially important to clean gutters at least twice a year because of the weather and the amount of forests surrounding the houses. . .
